Quest begins for Rangers’ Hobbit

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – Captain Chris Drury gathered his teammates around one crease following the Rangers’ practice on Wednesday to implore them not to lose focus despite the light schedule.

But Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto were not at the impromptu players-only meeting and both will miss tonight’s game against the Lightning at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers’ first in four days and one of three in a 10-day stretch.

Mats Zuccarello, 23, was recalled from Connecticut (AHL) to make his NHL debut.

"When you play a lot, it’s easier to get ready for games," said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made 35 saves in Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Philadelphia. "When you have a bunch of days off, I think you have to prepare a little more to get into the flow."

Gaborik, who has one goal in his last eight games, is dealing with a sore groin while Del Zotto has a stomach virus. It’s the latest in a series of player absences.

Gaborik, with nine goals and 10 assists in 22 games, has already missed 12 games with a separated left shoulder. Ryan Callahan is out approximately two months with a broken left hand. Drury will be playing in his third game since returning from a broken left index finger that sidelined him for all but one game this season.

"We’d rather have [Gaborik] in the lineup but there’s no sense dwelling on it if the guy can’t go," center Brian Boyle said.

Coach John Tortorella said Gaborik reported soreness Monday and told the staff he was unable to practice on Wednesday. The Rangers next host the Islanders on Monday and Tortorella hopes that’s sufficient time for Gaborik to heal.

"We’ve had injuries all year long and we’ve gone about our business and that’s what we’ll do," Tortorella said. "I don’t think it’s anything real serious."

The 5-foot-7 Zuccarello, who is known as the Norwegian Hobbit, signed a two-year, $3.5 million deal after being the MVP of the Swedish Elite League. He has worked to adapt his creative style to the more physical hockey played in the smaller North American rinks.

He has 13 goals and 11 assists in 32 games for Connecticut, including 11 goals and 11 assists in the last 20 games.

BRIEFS: Enforcer Derek Boogaard, who will miss his sixth straight game tonight, will be sent to a neurologist for a suspected concussion as his continuing headaches show no sign of abating. … Chris Kreider, the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2009 and Ryan Bourque, a third-rounder in 2009, were named to Team USA for the World Junior Championships, Sunday-Jan. 5 in Buffalo, N.Y. Roman Horak, the team’s fifth-round pick in 2009, will play for the Czech Republic and Jesper Fasth, a sixth-round pick this year, will play for Sweden.